Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 10:29 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:04 p.m.

James Pardin said he was working at his diesel mechanic shop Monday night when he heard a “bunch of hollering and screaming” at his friend's business across the street from him.

When he ran over he saw his friend, John West, shotgun in hand, ordering two men to get out of a Nissan Xterra.

“I just helped him keep them there until the cops came,” Pardin said at his business on Newport Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

Volusia County sheriff's deputies said West, 64, had been guarding his business, West Crane Services, because it had been burglarized Friday and metal was stolen.

Armed with a shotgun, West confronted the suspects Monday night at 8:50 p.m. as they tried to drive off in a Nissan Xterra, said Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught.

The suspects, identified as Ryan Moore, 28, and Scott Sasek, 28, both of DeLand, were arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft. Moore also was charged with a probation violation for handling stolen goods. Sasek was charged for violation of probation in reference to a drug offense in Seminole County, a booking officer said.

West could not be reached Tuesday for comment and Pardin said his friend of several years did not want the attention the media was giving him.

In a 9-1-1 recording, West can be heard telling a dispatcher that he had the men at gunpoint at one time. He questioned Moore and Sasek to get their ages and the color of their clothes to relay to a dispatcher.

“One of them is laying on the ground and the other one is just sitting out here but I am not letting them go nowhere until somebody gets here,” West told a dispatcher. “You're caught red-handed dude! We got 'em buddy. So get the cops here.”

Asked if anyone was injured, West said, “Not yet.”

West had been staying at his business after burglars stole metal from it Friday, Pardin said.

“He was protecting his business,” Pardin said.

Moore and Sasek kept apologizing to West for taking the nearly 400-pound wrecking ball and an assembly hook found in the SUV, Pardin said. Sasek said he was only getting a ride from Moore and did not know what Moore was doing, Pardin said.

“They had a 18-pack of Yeungling beer in the back and an open one by the console,” Pardin said. “And it was clear by the weight of that ball that two of them had to load that thing in the vehicle.”

According to Haught, West was surprised the men were able to move a very heavy wrecking ball.

“I don't know how the hell they picked it up, it weighs over 200 pounds,” West told a dispatcher. “But yeah, they are definitely stealing and it's in the car.”

A deputy found where the metal ball had been dragged through the dirt from under a covered enclosure attached to a building to where the suspects' vehicle was. The deputy was unable to move the wrecking ball by himself. The deputy said it weighed between 300 and 400 pounds, a sheriff's report shows.

Pardin said the money being paid for scrap metal is what prompts some people to do whatever to get the material to sell. It's a shame that people have to fence their property or business just “to stay ahead of the game,” he said.

“The problem is that the scrap (expletive) is out of control,” Pardin said. “People in the scrap metal business are paying big money without caring where it comes from and everybody is trying to get some of it.”

<p>James Pardin said he was working at his diesel mechanic shop Monday night when he heard a “bunch of hollering and screaming” at his friend's business across the street from him. </p><p> When he ran over he saw his friend, John West, shotgun in hand, ordering two men to get out of a Nissan Xterra. </p><p> “I just helped him keep them there until the cops came,” Pardin said at his business on Newport Avenue Tuesday afternoon. </p><p> Volusia County sheriff's deputies said West, 64, had been guarding his business, West Crane Services, because it had been burglarized Friday and metal was stolen. </p><p> Armed with a shotgun, West confronted the suspects Monday night at 8:50 p.m. as they tried to drive off in a Nissan Xterra, said Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught. </p><p> The suspects, identified as Ryan Moore, 28, and Scott Sasek, 28, both of DeLand, were arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft. Moore also was charged with a probation violation for handling stolen goods. Sasek was charged for violation of probation in reference to a drug offense in Seminole County, a booking officer said. </p><p> West could not be reached Tuesday for comment and Pardin said his friend of several years did not want the attention the media was giving him. </p><p> In a 9-1-1 recording, West can be heard telling a dispatcher that he had the men at gunpoint at one time. He questioned Moore and Sasek to get their ages and the color of their clothes to relay to a dispatcher. </p><p> “One of them is laying on the ground and the other one is just sitting out here but I am not letting them go nowhere until somebody gets here,” West told a dispatcher. “You're caught red-handed dude! We got 'em buddy. So get the cops here.” </p><p> Asked if anyone was injured, West said, “Not yet.” </p><p> West had been staying at his business after burglars stole metal from it Friday, Pardin said. </p><p> “He was protecting his business,” Pardin said. </p><p> Moore and Sasek kept apologizing to West for taking the nearly 400-pound wrecking ball and an assembly hook found in the SUV, Pardin said. Sasek said he was only getting a ride from Moore and did not know what Moore was doing, Pardin said. </p><p> “They had a 18-pack of Yeungling beer in the back and an open one by the console,” Pardin said. “And it was clear by the weight of that ball that two of them had to load that thing in the vehicle.” </p><p> </p><p> According to Haught, West was surprised the men were able to move a very heavy wrecking ball. </p><p> </p><p> “I don't know how the hell they picked it up, it weighs over 200 pounds,” West told a dispatcher. “But yeah, they are definitely stealing and it's in the car.” </p><p> </p><p> A deputy found where the metal ball had been dragged through the dirt from under a covered enclosure attached to a building to where the suspects' vehicle was. The deputy was unable to move the wrecking ball by himself. The deputy said it weighed between 300 and 400 pounds, a sheriff's report shows. </p><p> Pardin said the money being paid for scrap metal is what prompts some people to do whatever to get the material to sell. It's a shame that people have to fence their property or business just “to stay ahead of the game,” he said. </p><p> “The problem is that the scrap (expletive) is out of control,” Pardin said. “People in the scrap metal business are paying big money without caring where it comes from and everybody is trying to get some of it.”</p>